D2R2 2015

Who's in?

What are you planning on riding?

Which course?


FYI, Discounted Fee Deadline is Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM ET:

2015 D2R2

https://www.bikereg.com/d2r2

I'm planning on ridding the 100k course and hopefully bringing along at least a couple of buddies. With this brutal NE winter it feels great to have registration settled and the date on the calendar.

I know a number of you have ridden this event before, and at least two of you have written up ride reports for previous years. I suggest we keep this thread as a place to discuss the event, equipment choices, suggestions and advice, general nonsense and misinformation, etc. leading up to the event. I would encourage those of you who have ridden this event in the past to please share your photos, stories, links to ride reports, etc.

I'll be taking a Windsor Carrera Sport 650b conversion (Hetres assuming dryish course) that I'm building specifically for this ride. Toward the low end on the quality spectrum, but a nice, relatively cheap way to test the tire size (already have most everything to build it):

Bump for final day of early bird fee.

On my list to do one of these years.

My wife has family in the area and I have an open invite.

FWIW This is currently higher on my list than the Eroica rides. I don't like to dress up so much.

@op I really like your Windsor build. Looks practical like Chrome Molly's Roberts project. They look like they may fit in at Weigle's French Fender day event.

Any chance you could post a pic or two when you finish it up?

Thanks gomango. I've been meaning to start a thread on the Windsor build as I'll probably have a question or two along the way. I could use some help idntifying the fenders as well as a tail light I snagged for the build at the very least. French Fender Day is another happening on my to-do list. That one's even closer to my backyard.

I'm in for the 100 or 115k.

Did the 100k in 2013 with a 1981 Miyata 210 700c conversion
Did the 115k in 2014 with a 1991 Cannondale T2000

This year my thoughts are leaning towards my Surly LHT if I can get the brakes sorted OR perhaps go C&V with either my Trek 460 (1985) or 400 (1991). The first two times I ran 700x40, but I am thinking that other than Hawks Road, I can probably get by with 32's (weather permitting).

Will camp again this year with the same bunch of friends from CT and work. Good times.

Just registered for the 115k. Second year in a row trying to do it on a custom bike that doesn't seem to exist yet. Maybe I'll get it in time this year, if not, I'm well prepared this year and have options.

This ride is on my bucket list. I'm within day-trip range so it'd be a sin not to do it. This year however, I'm using up a year's worth of goodwill from Mrs. BluesDaddy so I can go to the UCI Worlds in Virginia. Plus my Raleigh Sports is not gravel-ready (or anything-ready for that matter) On to 2016!

I rode D2R2 three times: the 115k in 2011, and the 100k in 2012 and 2013. I missed D2R2 in 2014.

It's a beautiful and challenging ride. For people unfamiliar with the area, it represents the epitome of New England rural back country. 150 year old dirt carriage roads, many not officially open to motor vehicles, feature for much of the ride. The ride takes you through quintessential New England villages with old clapboard churches and village greens, and of course there are the covered bridges. The lunch stop is one of the highlights, and it's set in one of the most bucolic settings-- a grassy park along the Green river, with a dammed swimming hole next to a covered wooden bridge. The organizers don't skimp on the food-- lunch and dinner are feasts, and the local microbrew is the icing on the cake. And who wouldn't die for a fresh peach, picked that day, at a rest stop that's a farm orchard atop one of the steepest (and last) climbs of the day?

The organizers mark some of the tricky turns, but leave some unmarked, possibly just to keep you on your toes and remind you that you're supposed to be self-sufficient. Being able to read a cue sheet is key, as I've heard that many of the double track segments aren't mapped by GPS so your Garmin won't save you.

When I first rode it, it had already become popular, and there were a lot of riders. But the rides are staggered by length, so not everyone starts together. Rarely during the ride do you see large crowds of cyclists (except at lunch, where all but one of the routes converge), although you're never far away from them. The last two years I rode were even more popular, and it started to feel a little crowded for me... but that shouldn't detract from anyone considering doing it, especially for the first time. I remember sometime near the end of the first D2R2 when I was running on empty, I thought "despite feeling completely spent, I can't see myself NOT returning again next year, it's intoxicating".

As for preparation and bikey stuff-- be prepared for elevation gain, because you'll average 1000 feet for every 10 miles, and some of it is punctuated and on loose dirt. 15% grades are typical. The first two years I rode a Shogun touring bike 650B conversion with sub-1:1 low gear, and used it frequently. The last year I rode it I was on my Rawland Stag with 1:1 low gear. It was D2R2 that clearly demonstrated to me the difference between a 650B conversion of a stout touring frame and a skinny-tubed purpose-built 650B. My average speed was the same the first two years on the Shogun, then significantly higher on the Rawland. Fast rolling knobbies or any tire designed for 'gravel' would do well, but I rode on smooth 650B Hetres all three times and did just fine with the smooth tread. I never flatted and kept the tire pressures around 30 front/35 rear. The fatter the tire the better, but there were lots of racer types who rode 25mm tires (they were also the ones I saw flatting all the time). Don't use the event as a way to test out a new configuration-- better to make sure your bike is working well for you beforehand, that your'e comfortable with the setup and everything is dialed in, and that all your mechanicals are adjusted and reliable. Depending on the condition of the roads on the day of the ride, there could be a lot of washboarded segments which can rattle stuff loose. Also bring spare tubes, even though they stock them at the rest stops. Lastly, unless you're well trained for hill climbing, take it easy, pace yourself and enjoy the amazing scenery. Don't treat it as a race (although lots of racer types do). One of the most common stories I hear about D2R2 is that people pushed themselves too hard and exploded early into the ride. I'm firmly in the 'slow and steady' camp so I gladly let myself get dropped from whatever group I've fallen into if I feel I'm going to explode.

Since New England weather can be unpredictable in any season, be prepared for hot and humid (I lucked out all three years-- cool and dry, although the first year was the same day that Hurricane Irene hit, which swept in just minutes after we finished!). If you have a third set of bottle cage bosses, use it! Even though there's plenty of water and gatorade at the rest stops, if it's a sweltering hot day, you'll need all you can get.

With gravel and 'mixed terrain' rides becoming so much more popular, D2R2-inspired rides are popping up all over New England. Last year was the inaugural "F2G2" ride, which took place in October, just as the pastoral Berkshire forests were exhibiting their peak foliage. It was every bit as good as D2R2 but felt less like an event and more like just a ride, but with the benefit of food stops and dinner. There's also the annual Detour de-CT, which is semi-invitational, not organized as an event like D2R2 or F2G2. Then there's RAID Rockingham in NH, another gravel ride... and a bunch others.

This year, with all the new rides, I'm going to prioritize those that I haven't done, so I probably won't do D2R2 again. But I strongly encourage those who haven't, to do it!

Here are some photos from all three years I've ridden it:

Somewhere shortly after entering Vermont:


The bridge at lunch:


View from Apex Orchards, last stop before the end of the ride:


View from lunch:


The top of Patten Hill Road, a grueling climb on the 115k route:


Somewhere along the way:


Bridge on Franklin Hill Rd:


A very inconspicuous border marking. This is one of the places I look forward to the most on the 100k route-- you cross the border to VT without knowing it, along a very quiet and unassuming lane. But off to the side of the road, almost out of view, is a marker dated 1896, with "MASS" on one side, and "VT" on the other.


Square Lot Rd:


Hawk's Rd, near the end. Farther down this road it becomes really difficult rocky double track.

I've done D2R2 twice and would do it more often as several of my riding friends have done it each year it's been run, but the timing is usually when we're away on family end-of-summer vacation. Ditto to what Anton says in terms of lots of climbing, lots of dirt, great food, great scenery, and lots of climbing. And then there are the riders who do the 100-mile ride on a fixed gear and skinny tires. Amazing.

My first D2R2 was the 100k ride, and it was in the low 90s that day. After the first real climb, I thought I might just curl up and die right there, but after a good rest stop and some re-charging, I was good to go and the rest of the ride wasn't too difficult. This last time, I intended to do the 115k route, which had over 8500 feet of climbing. After 40 miles and about 4500 feet of climbing, I was extremely cooked, cramping up like mad, and bailed on the longer ride after the lunch stop (though I went back along the Green River road, which is gorgeous). That first ride I was on my Kogswell with 38mm x 650b tires. This last one I was on my RB-T with 38mm Continental cross tires. If I do it this year, I'll again take the RB-T (but this time I'll make sure my FD works under load to shift on to the small ring--that was a problem).

Didn't here used to a regular road race in the Deerfield area, back in the late '80s early '90s.

Sounds like a fun event.

Nice pictures, [MENTION=137164]southpawboston[/MENTION].

+1

Glad to see this grabbed a little bit of traction, I wasn't sure it would.

That is an excellent primer, [MENTION=137164]southpawboston[/MENTION]. Thank you. The pictures sure help to visualize the event. The mention of making repeated use of a sub-1:1 low is a good data point. ...and I wish you hadn't mentioned the Stag, it got me curious about pricing. I didn't realize they are so affordable...thankfully it appears that my size is not in stock. The Windsor is straight gauge Tange tubing, and is sure to be a 'dead' ride. Thought is to transfer at least some of the parts over to a more suitable frameset in the future. Wheelset, fenders, front rack, bag, saddle, and lighting at least - however, I do have a birthday well before this event...

The climbing on this ride will certainly 'inspire' many rides leading up to it. I'll be packing a triple. Hoping to get in plenty of long, steep trips prior to Aug. 22, and I sure hope we don't have a hot & humid day for the ride. I sweat in the winter.

I'm glad to see that some others here will be joining the event - I'm sure that this ride will be a memorable one. Hopefully the crowds thin out early into the ride. Judging by pics and vids of previous years this appears to be the case, along with the crowds bunching back up around the rest stops.

What's the camping situation like [MENTION=306334]a3inverter[/MENTION]? I haven't looked into it much, but may be interested. Campfire and beer/bourbon type camping? I'd imagine (and hope) that any of the typical camping ruckus (which I'm in full support of) is constrained to earlier in the night so folks are able to get a good night's rest in.

Good luck on the custom, whatwolf.

For camping, you drive out onto a mowed down field, pick your spot and go for it. I would expect that campfires are frowned upon (I've never actually seen one), but cookstoves are fine.. In 2013 they asked if you wanted to be on the "loud" side or the "quiet" side. We chose "quiet" and everything was fine. We gravitated to the "quiet" side last year. I think the knowledge that you are going to exert yourself in a serious manner the next day tamps down the extreme exuberance on Friday night. On Saturday post-ride, the atmosphere is more vibrant. Plan on the nights being colder than you expect (Autumn comes early to Western Mass) and very, very wet in the mornings from dew.

I would echo all that [MENTION=137164]southpawboston[/MENTION] said. I can recall coming upon that Apex Orchard (the aforementioned peach reference) climb on the 100k and thinking, hey this looks like those videos of Everest where the climbers look like a line of ants so far away. That was a tough climb. Then I did Pennel and Patton on the 115k in 2014 and decided that the Apex climb was nothing. The highlight of the Patton climb last year was being passed by a group of smiling Boston-based framebuilders (Geekhouse and Firefly) and chatting them up as they passed by. Lots of walking on that climb.

The entire ride is great...especially the last few miles where you have done the last climb and are rolling to the finish. The feeling in those last miles is not, "wow, I never want to do THAT again", instead, "when does BikeReg open for NEXT year?".

The event as a whole is a really good time. Plenty of bike pr0n, microbrews, challenging (mostly) traffic-free terrain and beautiful scenery - it's like heaven, but with beer and bikes.

My keys for success:

Gears - I have run mountain/touring triples with a 28+ out back. Last year I thought I had too much gearing (24 x 32?)
Brakes - Some of the descents are rock-strewn *****shows (with ambulances at the bottom for your convenience)
Volume - as in bigger tires. I've run knobbies (the same tires in fact - Schwalbe Land Cruisers 700x42) but honestly, tread didn't seem to matter that much.
Attitude - Have fun..you are out in a beautiful part of the world with hundreds of the same mind...and there is beer at the finish.

2013, in video form:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNHJ1fMw_F4

Well done! Lots of familiar scenes, there...

Well now. Good tastes in beer and fun. Where's the hike? I think I recognize it.

I would love to do this ride. Right now I am not sure if either of my bikes (Specialized Roubaix, Sirrus) would be ideal. I don't want to have a miserable time. I will try to explore some modifications or different tires that may help.

Stowe Pinnacle Trail outside of Waterbury, VT. We went in search of Heady Topper the night before on the "IPA Highway". The Prohibition Pig (and their beer selection) was outstanding.

It used to be said that there was no "perfect" bike for this ride. With the rise of the "gravel grinder" segment I suppose that has changed. You see everything from hardtails to carbon bikes with 25's.

Tire clearance likely takes the Roubaix off the list. For the Sirrus, I would guess you have room for big tires, but the flat bar would make for a long day. A friend put drop bars (and barcons) on his Specialized hybrid (maybe it was a Sirrus) and had a blast. Cheapest option may be to get some ski-bend bar ends and call it good. Plenty of hand positions and no need to change the shifting.

Although perhaps this is an opportunity to go N+1

Yeah. I don't want to dump money into the Sirrus, spending more than the bike is worth. I have not been riding it much, because over time I have come to prefer drop bars. I have been thinking abut the N+1 option

The last time I rode D2R2 in 2013, I saw lots and lots of high-end cyclocross bikes. The first time (maybe 2010?) I saw a much more diverse array from mtn bikes with super low gears to carbon racing bikes with narrow tires.